“Hey look! It’s Disney,” exclaimed a little girl as my family and I made our way along the Fountain Pot Trail in Yellowstone National Park. We were part of an Adventures by Disney tour group, and the girl was referring to the distinctive logo imprinted on the sign that one of our guides was carrying.

Rather than offering fanciful lands and attractions at theme parks that are based on real places, Adventures by Disney takes guests to actual places across the globe. Why, you might wonder, would Disney have branched off into the guided group tour business? The reaction of the little girl speaks volumes.

The Disney brand is widely recognized and the company’s knack for storytelling makes it ideally suited to bring real-world adventures to life. And the special connection it has with children allows it to carve a niche in the underserved family tours market.

After spending a week exploring Yellowstone and the Big Sky area of Montana with the Mouse, it’s clear that Disney can deliver eTicket adventures without storybook castles, costumed characters or animatronic pirates.

Shanghai Disneyland: Beauty and the Beast Broadway production (Opening date: Summer 2018): The resort’s Walt Disney Grand Theatre will welcome a Mandarin-language version of the long-running Broadway musical, “Beauty and the Beast.” The theater currently presents a Chinese production of “Lion King.” Disney

Walt Disney World: Caribbean Beach Resort transformation (Opening date: Fall 2018): One of Disney World's largest hotels, the Caribbean Beach Resort is undergoing a major remodeling. Among the new features will be a new, central registration area and re-imagined dining locations including a quick-service eatery, a table-service restaurant, and a poolside bar. Disney

Disneyland Resort: Star Wars- Galaxy’s Edge
(Opening date: Summer 2019): The 14-acre land now under construction will transport visitors to an intergalactic outpost. There they will be invited to pilot the Millennium Falcon and join sides in a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Joshua Sudock, Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort: Star Wars- Galaxy’s Edge
(Opening date: Summer 2019): Located on the planet Batuu, the name of the renegade village on the edge of the Star Wars galaxy will be Black Spire Outpost. Disney is promising that the area will be richly themed and highly interactive. Disney

Walt Disney World: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
(Opening date: Late fall 2019): A galaxy far, far away is on its way to Disney World as well as Disneyland, just a bit later in the year. Among the characters visitors will get to encounter in the Star Wars land will be Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and BB-8 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Disney

Walt Disney World: Disney Riviera Resort (Opening date: 2019): The 15th Disney Vacation Club resort will offer 300 accommodation units. To be located near Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the resort will include a rooftop restaurant that will afford views of the parks. Disney

Disneyland Paris Resort: New Lion King show
(Opening date: 2019): In a display of the, ahem, circle of life, one of Disney’s most popular and enduring films will inspire a new musical stage show. Since Disneyland Paris is multilingual, we're not sure what language the performers will use for the Lion King production (but “Hakuna Matata” should translate well into any dialect). Disney

Disneyland Resort: Super Hero-themed land based on "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Avengers," and "Iron Man" (Opening date: 2020): Disney California Adventure’s "a bug's land" will get squashed and replaced with attractions featuring characters from the Marvel Universe. It will include the existing Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout along with new rides based on Iron Man and the Avengers. Joshua Sudock, Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Tokyo Disney Resort: New Fantasyland expansion (Opening date: 2020): Additional attractions and other enhancements are on their way to the park’s Fantasyland. Among the additions will be a new indoor theater for live shows. Disney

Tokyo Disney Resort: Beauty and the Beast area
(Opening date: 2020): As part of the New Fantasyland expansion, guests will be able to ride aboard “enchanted dishes” and visit Beast’s castle. The Beauty and the Beast area will also include a themed restaurant and shop. Disney

Disneyland Paris Resort: Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
(Opening date: 2020): The existing Hotel New York will get a superhero makeover courtesy of the Marvel Universe. Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Avengers, and other characters will inspire the décor and vibe in the lobby and throughout the hotel. Disney

Walt Disney World: Space-themed restaurant
(Opening date: Before 2021): To be located near Epcot‘s Mission: Space attraction, the yet-to-be-named table-service restaurant will transport patrons to an orbiting space station. Guests will be able to see the Earth below as they dine. Disney

Walt Disney World: Tron coaster (Opening date: 2021): A highly themed attraction based on the two "Tron" sci-fi films is on its way to Tomorrowland. Like the hugely popular ride at Shanghai Disneyland, passengers will board Lightcycle-styled trains and experience Disney’s fastest, and arguably most thrilling, roller coaster. Disney

Walt Disney World: Guardians of the Galaxy coaster (Opening date: 2021): You’ll be able to join Star-Lord and his ragtag intergalactic gang on an airtime-filled adventure in Epcot. Disney says the attraction will be one of the world’s longest indoor coasters and will include an innovative ride system. Disney

Walt Disney World: Ratatouille attraction
(Opening date: 2021): Ooh la la. Based on the Pixar film, Ratatouille, passengers will shrink to the size of an escargot and go on a journey with Remy through Gusteau's restaurant in Epcot's France pavilion. Disney

Walt Disney World: 50th anniversary celebration
(Announced launch date: 2021): The resort will undoubtedly present a big blowout to mark its half-century milestone. All of the attractions and developments listed here should be good to go for the anniversary, with some of the openings planned to coincide with the celebration. David Roark, Disney

Disneyland Resort: Fourth hotel (Opening date: 2021): A new 700-room hotel is on its way to the Disneyland Resort. It will be located next to the classic Disneyland Hotel and will feature a platform for the Disneyland Monorail inside its lobby. Disney

Disney Cruise Line: Three new ships (Announced launch dates: 2021, 2022, and 2023): Disney’s fleet of four ships will expand to seven with the introduction of three new vessels. They will each include about 1,250 staterooms, which will make them roughly the same capacity as the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream, the cruise line’s two largest ships now sailing. Disney

Tokyo Disney Resort: Frozen land (Opening date: By 2022): The Tokyo Disney Resort is building a new “port” in its Tokyo DisneySea park that will welcome three new micro-lands. The total cost for the expansion project is pegged at $2.3 billion. One of the lands will be themed to "Frozen" and will feature a boat ride about Anna and Elsa along with a restaurant inside Arendelle Castle. Disney

Tokyo Disney Resort: Tangled land
(Opening date: By 2022): Rapunzel’s tower will draw visitors to an area devoted to Disney’s animated film, "Tangled." An attraction using gondola vehicles will transport riders to a lantern festival. Disney

Tokyo Disney Resort: Peter Pan Never Land
(Opening date: By 2022): The new port will also welcome a Peter Pan-themed area and tell the iconic tale with two new attractions. One will use 3D imagery to soar above Never Land, while the other will immerse guests in Tinker Bell’s home, Pixie Hollow. There will also be a Lost Boys-inspired restaurant. Disney

Walt Disney World: Disney Skyliner gondolas
(Opening date: TBA): Disney World’s existing modes of transportation, including monorails, ferries, and buses, can get very crowded. A new gondola system, which will link Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Disney’s Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and new Disney Riviera will help ease some of the congestion and offer a fun way to get around the resort. Disney

Disneyland Paris Resort: New Marvel, Frozen, and Star Wars lands (Opening date: TBA): The Avengers-themed coaster will anchor an entire Marvel land. It will be part of a $2.4 billion expansion of Disneyland Paris Resort that will also bring new lands based on "Star Wars" and the animated blockbuster, "Frozen." Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland: New castle (Opening date: TBA): As with the Disneyland Paris Resort, Disney is planning to invest beaucoup bucks (reportedly $1.4 million) into a major, multi-year expansion at its Hong Kong property. As part of the changes, the park’s centerpiece icon is being upgraded from the comparatively diminutive Sleeping Beauty Castle (which was based on the original castle in California) to a larger, grander, and more unique palace. Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland: Frozen land (Opening date: TBA): As part of the massive expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland, visitors will be able to engage in some Frozen-themed fun. A new land based on the film will welcome guests to the mythical kingdom of Arendelle and will include rides and dining experiences. Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland: New Ant-Man and The Wasp ride (Opening: TBA):
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters closed to make way for a re-themed ride based on the size-changing Marvel heroes, Ant-Man and The Wasp. Instead of blasting Toy Story’s Evil Emperor Zurg, passengers will battle Arnim Zola and Hydra bots. Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland: Marvel land (Opening date: TBA): Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland already has an Iron Man Experience ride and has one featuring Ant-Man and The Wasp in the works. The park will be getting a dedicated Marvel land, however, that will encompass those rides and introduce additional superhero attractions. Disney

The initial part of the trip focused on Yellowstone, the first national park in the U.S. and the world, as well as one of the most popular. The tour included visits to most of the park’s highlights, such as the otherworldly Grand Prismatic Spring with its stunning rainbow of vibrant colors, a hike overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (who knew there was a Grand Canyon in northern Wyoming?) that included views of its mineral-infused, multi-hued waterfalls, and, of course, a stop at Old Faithful to see the celebrated geyser do its thing.

An early morning ride on the tour group’s motorcoach through the Lamar Valley afforded many sightings of free-roaming bison, elk, antelope and other animals. We boarded horse-drawn, replica stagecoaches to help get a sense of the way visitors first traveled through Yellowstone in the late 1800s and early 1900s (and for the sheer fun of it). Accompanying us throughout the three days we visited the park was a local naturalist who provided expert insight and context.

As we were making our way just before dusk through the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, a ghostly fog crept in that mixed with the sulfur-tinged plumes of steam from the springs. An unexpected thunderstorm then followed. What could have been a disappointing washout turned into a lively game of “Wordles” thanks to Doug Littell, one of the tour’s leaders. He quickly produced a homemade stash of cards with word puzzles on them and kept us engaged as we huddled in the eerie, fading light under the shelter of a large tree.

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The park’s wildlife is most active during the early morning when most of the park’s visitors are not, and Lamar Valley in Yellowstone’s Northern Range is one of the best places for spotting wildlife. Diane Renkin

You’ll experience the peace and tranquility of fishing along Yellowstone’s 2,650 miles of streams and 150 lakes while collecting biological information on the park’s fish populations through the catch-and-release program. Jim Peaco

Tour leaders can make all the difference, and in Littell’s case, he was key in making the trip wonderful. He was able to pivot and present an alternate activity that was suitable for and enjoyed by the participants, whether they were children, teens or parents. But Littell wasn’t alone in making the trip hum along. He was joined by Lauren Milligan.

A central Adventures by Disney distinction: It includes two tour leaders, dubbed “adventure guides,” for its trips. While it’s not unprecedented for companies to assign two people to lead their tours, it is rare. With their winning personalities and other traits, Littell and Milligan were both ideally suited for the position.

“One of us can be focused on the logistics of the tour, while the other guide is able to pay attention to things that other [companies’] tour guides wouldn’t notice,” Littell says, explaining the benefits of two leaders. Thanks to the guides, plans for the trip unfolded seamlessly. But more critically, the doting attention they lavished on our group of about 30 participants made every family and each person feel welcome.

Other Disney touches were subtler. Each day, participants received a pin custom-made for the trip and bearing the likeness of Mickey Mouse, Pluto or another animated character. Music from Disney movies or the parks, often reinterpreted with a country western arrangement befitting the Montana setting, played quietly during the bus rides.

As with any group travel, the Adventures by Disney trip offered pros and cons. On the one hand, nearly everything was arranged by the company and handled by the guides, which made the experience stress-free. But the trade-off was that participants didn’t have much say in the arrangements. For example, I certainly wouldn’t have chosen a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call, as we had for one of our days.

Glamping and ranching

Left to our own travel-planning devices, my family probably never would have gone glamping either. But I’m glad we did. Two nights in a large, safari-style tent under a gloriously starlit sky at Yellowstone Under Canvas in West Yellowstone, Montana, provided a great introduction to the burgeoning concept of “glamorous” camping.

With a comfortable, king-sized bed, a partitioned bathroom in the tent that had running water and hot showers, and a wood-burning stove, I suppose the accommodations were glamorous compared to standard camping. But with no electricity, king-sized mosquitoes, and – gasp! – no Wi-Fi signal, it wasn’t glamorous by most standards. Still, staying at Yellowstone Under Canvas was a wonderful way to commune with the area’s rugged beauty and was in keeping with the trip’s ethos.

Transitioning to the Big Sky area in Montana for the second half of the trip, the accommodations at the 320 Guest Ranch in Gallatin Gateway were more upscale, but there wasn’t a fancy bathrobe to be found in the nicely appointed, but rustic, two-bedroom log cabin in which we stayed. There were, however, plenty of horses roaming the ranch.

320’s wranglers hosted a two-hour group horseback ride through mountain meadows that took us some 800 feet above the rambling ranch. The trails offered spectacular views of the valley and mountain peaks in the distance.

Other activities included fly-fishing on the Gallatin River, a contemplative – and, it turns out, delightful – way to chill out that allowed me and my family members, novice anglers all, to each catch (and release) a fish. The action was zippier as we navigated the rapids of the Gallatin during a whitewater rafting expedition. The experience was surprisingly similar to river raft rides found at theme parks, such as Kali River Rapids at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. The interactivity as well as the stakes were higher on Montana’s “real” raft ride.

Our group also participated in a thrilling zip line tour down Lone Mountain at the Big Sky Resort, a bike tour through a wooded trail, and a hike along the lovely Ousel Falls Park Trail. We were kept on the go with engaging activities, but none of them were especially strenuous or required much skill.

At the beginning of the trip, we were asked to make choices for some of the activities and meals. When I saw that one of the lunch options was a pre-made hoagie with a packet of Italian dressing, I had the sense that the tour would not be a gourmand’s delight. Some of the food, in fact, was delicious, such as charcoal-grilled elk and huckleberry cobbler (the regional fruit is a popular ingredient in Montana) at the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room and the grilled vegetable salad with smoked chicken at the Bar N Ranch, which is adjacent to Yellowstone Under Canvas. For the most part, the meals were fine, if not especially memorable.

As with the accommodations, though, the trip was less about the food and more about experiencing the majesty of one of the country’s most beautiful places. On that count, Disney succeeded wildly. “It’s adventures by Disney, not vacations by Disney,” says Littell, explaining the mission for the Montana tour.

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The second glamping season at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport opened in May, and as of late-June, glampers can now find more options for their overnight stays, including 12 Camp Carriages and 12 Hideaway Huts, all decorated by Kennebunkport designer Krista Stokes. Douglas Merriam

Each 651-square-foot teepee features a king bed, a full sleeper sofa (accommodates up to four), leather chairs, a/c, private en suite bathrooms, a double-sided stone rock hearth fireplace, heating (yes, it does get chilly in Florida), a mini refrigerator, microwave and a screened private patio deck. Westgate Resorts

Collective Yellowstone is a terrific spot for immersing yourself in nature, while at the same time enjoying the luxuries of king-size beds with 1,500 thread count linens, wood-burning stoves, private decks and private bathrooms. Collective Retreats

Climb up 70 feet above Snake Creek Gorge in Whitesburg, Georgia (about an hour west of Atlanta) and you’ll feel like part of the Swiss Family Robinson at the Tree House Village in Historic Banning Mills. Historic Banning Mills

Accessible only by rope and wood sky bridges, the seven tree house rooms have all the perks you’d expect when glamping, including a jetted tub for two, microwave, small refrigerator, and even a Keurig coffee machine. Historic Banning Mills

If you find yourself in Washington State’s San Juan Islands, and specifically on Orcas Island, be sure to check out the glamping opportunities in the middle of 5,200-plus acre Moran State Park, operated by LEANTO. LEANTO

The handful of glamping sites within the park are platform tents, and though they don’t have water or electricity, and cell phone service is elusive, there’s plenty to keep you occupied – just let Mother Nature entertain you. LEANTO

Imagine days filled with playing in and on the water, mountain biking, exploring the gorge and even wine tasting, and then returning to your glamping tent for the night. Michael Peterson, Westcliff Lodge

Have an idea of where you’d like to go glamping but can’t find anyplace that fits the bill? Check out Camp’d Out – you choose and reserve the spot and they’ll handle the rest, from set-up to tear-down. Camp’d Out